Electrically heated space radiator



April 20, 1948. MORTON- 2,439,945

ELECTRICALLY HEATED SPACE RADIATOR Filed Jan. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR v fli /VA? (/1 /o/Pro/v.

Mai/Q H. J. MORTON ELECTR ICALLY HEATED SPACE RADIATOR April 20, 1948.

Filed Jan. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V Patented Apr. 20, 1948 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY HEATED SPACE RADIATOR Henry J. Morton,Detroit, Mich. Application January 17, 1946, Serial No. 641,688

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in heating apparatus, particularlyof the electrically heated space heating types.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient andreliable apparatus for supplying heat to rooms, or other spaces ofbuilding structures.

The invention has for its object to provide a radiator in which the heatproduced and emitted is the result of the combined effect of convection,conduction and radiation.

The invention has for its object to provide a radiator having one ormore sections having heating means at the lower portion thereof, andairpassages disposed vertically of each section; certain of such passagesserve as cold air inlets and other thereof as outlets for the air afterthe same has been heated.

The invention has for its object to provide a radiator in which eachsection is formed of two mating parts of opposite hand secured togetheralong their registering peripheral edges, and having along theirperipheral edges a series of air passages, certain of which communicatewith the heating chamber portion of the radiator section for introducingthereto cold air to be heated, and other of which communicate with theportion of the radiator section above the heating chamber portion, andserve as outlets for the discharge of the air after the same has beenheated.

The invention has for its object to provide a radiator comprising aplurality of sections each of which is composed of two correlated matingparts joined along their peripheral edges, and having along their edgesa series of air passages, and a shield formed integrally with one part,and having its free edge projecting over the edge of the other part inspaced relation thereto.

The invention has for its object to provide a radiator which ispreferably formed of sheet metal, and composed of two correlated partsof opposite hand pressed to shape, one of such parts having verticallyrelated series of recesses serving as air passages, and the other ofsuch parts being provided with a continuous flange of transverselycurved form in cross-section serving as a shield extending over such airpassages.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my inventionconsists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination,connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described andthen pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing apreferred form of radiator constructed according to and 2 embodying myinvention, partly broken away to expose the heating means.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lower portionof one end section and of an adjoining section of the radiator, on ascale comparable to that of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an inside face view of one part of a radiator section showingthe recesses in the edge thereof which serve to form air passages.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the part shown at Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an inside face view of the cooperating part which iscombinable with the part shown at Fig. 5, and showing the shield alongits periphery, partly broken away.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary edge view of the part shown in Fig. 7, and itscooperating part in dash outline.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, showing anotherembodiment of the invention comprising another arrangement formaintaining the parts of each radiator section in spaced relation toprovide vertically related air recesses.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line Iii-I0 of Fig. 9.

Pursuant to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 8, I0 designates theradiator as a whole, comprising a plurality of sections II securedtogether in assembled relation by tie rods or bolts I2 extending throughsaid sections adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and nuts I3 onthe threaded projecting ends of said tie rods.

The radiator sections I I are preferably stamped out of sheet metal,such as steel, copper or suitable alloys, and each preferably consistsof two mutually conforming parts, designated I4, I5. In the illustratedembodiment the sections are shown in the form of hollow, substantiallyflat, rectangular panels of opposite hand. The two parts I4, I5 areshown provided adjacent their lower ends with outwardly projectingportions I6, having openings I'I therein for establishing communicationbetween the respective sections. The portions I 6 jointly form enlargedchambers I8 when the parts I4, i5 are duly joined, in which chamberssuitable heating means is disposed, as appears more fully hereinafter.

Each part i4 is provided along its edge with a series of mutually spacedperipheral flangelike projections I9, forming with the part I5intermediate of such projections IS a series of mutually spaced recesses20, serving as air passages, the lower passages as air inlets and theupper passages as air outlets. Desirably, as shown, the air passages atthe upper portions of each section are preferably somewhat larger inarea than the air passages at or adjacent the lower portions of thesection, whereby to compensate for the increase in volume of the air asthe same is heated and expanded in its transit through the radiatorsection.

The cooperating radiator part l corresponds generally in outline withthat of the part [4, but of opposite hand, and is shown provided alongits peripheral edge with a flange 2f, the free edge 22 of which ispreferably substantially semi-circular in cross-section and extends overand in spaced relation with the flange-like projections IQ of the partHi. The mutually spaced projections is of the part I4 engage the innerface of the part [5, and thereby form the air passages 2%, the flange 21of the part l5 serving as a shield for the air passages.

23 denotes a suitable electric heating means, shown as comprising aplurality of disks 2d of insulating material which are mounted inmutually spaced relation upon a supporting rod 25, and carry a set ofelectrical resistance coils 26, which may be of nichrome or othersuitable resistance wire. The rod 25 is shown supported at one end in atapered cup 27 secured to the inner side of one end section H of theradiator, and its other end supported in a bracket .28 secured to theother end section H of the radiator. One end section H is shown providedwith a bushed opening 25 for the introduction of the cord of electricalconductors (not shown), connected to the resistance coils 2t of theheating means for connection with a suitable source of electric energy.

The heating means 23 is showndisposed longitudinally in the chamberportions [8 of the radiator sections.

It will be apparent upon energization of the heating means, the airoriginally within the hollow section or sections of the radiator becomesheated, thereby expanding such air and initiating upward flow of suchair within the radiator, causing flow of heated air through the upperair passages of the radiator and thence distribution of heat byconvection exteriorly of the Y radiator and thus into the atmosphere ofthe room or other space desired to be heated. Such energized heatingmeans serves also to transmit heat by radiation to the walls of thesection or sections of the radiator, which in turn supply heat byradiation within the room or other space, and by conduction elevate thetemperature of the air of the room or other space by contact heatexchange therewith. In such operation it will be observed that theclearance afforded by the shielding flange 2| of the part 5, for theportion thereof extending in vertical direction serves to increase thedischarge of heated air through the upper lateral air passages, bysuction-like effect.

The shield at its portion disposed at the upper portion of the radiatorsection serves as protecting. guard, in the circumstance that articlesof wear or the like are placed upon the radiator for the purpose ofdrying the same, the nature of the heat transmitted by the radiator, asabove explained, permitting such drying operation to besafely carriedout without danger of fire or scorching.

The shield serves also to conceal from view the openings of the airpassages.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment wherein the peripheraledges of the cooperating radiator parts Ma, 15a are spaced in mutualrelation to provide air passages. Pursuant to this embodiment one partis provided along its edge at preferably regular intervals withsemi-circular projections Nb, and its mating part is provided withsimilar and like spaced registering projections He, the projections Hb,llc, abutting one another respectively to maintain the conforming edgesof the radiator parts in duly spaced relation when the same are joinedto one another. Otherwise, the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 conforms tothe above described embodiments.

The radiator is supported as may be preferred. In the usual types theradiator is supported upon a floor or the like to position the lowerendsof the radiator sections above such support, as by means of feetindicated at 3%, 33, in Figs. 1 and 2, and shown attached to orotherwise secured to the lower ends of the opposite end sections.

From the foregoing, it is observed that the invention in its variantembodiments provides a radiator of one or more sections, each sectionbeing formed of hollow mating parts of opposite hand and provided withvertically related openings serving as air passages, combined withelectrical or other suitable heating means disposed within such hollowsection or sections.

Preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the drawings,are provided in each section of the radiator with a limited series ofvertically related air passages, such as a single series at each side,and the air passages thereof of predetermined restricted effectiveopening, whereby the flow of air through each section is positivelyrestrained to thereby subject the air in its transit through the sectionto a predetermined elevated temperature, in controlling the conductiveand radiating temperature of the exposed partsv of the section as wellas the temperature of convection of the heated air current dischargedthrough the upper air passages. of the section, thus affording a maximumtotal efiiciency of comfort and safe heating.

Correlated with such principle of heating of conjoint. radiation,convection and conduction, the sections of the radiator are preferablyof duplicate construction whereby the number of sections of any givenradiator designed to emit any given total emitted heat energy isselected for an electrical heating unit of a given wattage, the propernumber of sections as completed units being readily added or subtractedas the case may be, the optimum total emitted heat energy, as indicatedabove, being predetermined to limit the conducting temperature. of theexposed parts of each section to be safe if touched by children or otherpersons, or by pets, and proof against burning or scorching of fabric orotherwise constituting a fire hazard.

Predicated upon results of tests of embodiments of the inventionafiordi'n optimum total heat emission and attaining the objectivesherein set forth, the total efiective extent. of opening of the airpassages is predetermined to yield the emission of heat energy byradiation relative to the emission of heat energy by convection in theratio of approximately 72 to 28. In such embodiments of r the inventionhaving such total effective predetermined extent of opening oi airpassages the internal volume of the pro-heat chamber, 1. e., the chambermeans formed jointly in the sections, relative to the total internalvolume of the sections jointly is in the ratio of 1 to 2.2approximately; the height of the preheat chamber, i. e., the chambermeans formed jointly in the sections, relative to the common internalheight of the section is desirably in the ratio of 1 to 4,approximately.

Whereas, I have illustrated my invention by reference to typicalpreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that theinvention is not restricted thereto and that changes or modificationsmay be made without departing from the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A sheet metal radiator comprising a plurality of hollow, relativelyfiat sections, means for securing said sections in assembled relation;said sections each including two similarly shaped parts of opposite handsecured together along their edges and provided along their entireperiphery with a series of air ports, a guard-shield on one of saidparts co-extensive in outline therewith and extending over the edge ofthe other of said parts in spaced relation to the air ports between saidparts for the full periphery of said one part, and heating meansextending through said sections.

2. A sheet metal radiator comprising a plurality of hollow, relativelyflat sections, means for securing said sections in assembled relation;said sections each including two similarly shaped parts of opposite handsecured to ether along their edges and provided along their entireperiphery with a series of elongated air ports, enlarged portions at thelower ends of said sections forming heating chambers, a guard-shieldalong the edge of one of said parts co-extensive in outline therewithand extending over the edge of the other of said parts in spacedrelation to the air ports between said parts for the full periphery ofsaid one part, and heating means extending through said heatingchambers.

3. A radiator section comprising two correspondingly shaped partssecured together along their peripheral edges, and provided along saidedges with air ports; one of said parts being of larger outline than theother thereof and havin its projecting portion extending over the edgeof said other part and constituting a guard-shield disposed in spacedrelation to said air ports.

4. A radiator section comprising two correspondingly shaped partssecured together along their peripheral edges and provided along saidedges with a series of elongated air ports; one of said parts being ofgreater outline than the other thereof and having its projecting edgeturned inwardly and extending over the edge of said other part in spacedrelation to said series of air ports.

5. A sheet metal radiator section comprising two similarly shaped partsof opposite hand, one

part being wider than its mating part, said parts being secured togetheralong their conforming edges and provided along their entire peripherywith a series of elongated air ports, and at their lower ends withregistering laterally-extended portions jointly forming an enlargedheating chamber portion, and a substantially semi-circular guard-shieldformed by the extension of said one part projecting over the edge of theother of said parts in spaced relation to the air ports along the edgesof said parts.

6. A sheet metal radiator section comprising two similarly shaped partsof opposite hand, one part being wider than its mating part, aid partsbeing secured together along their conforming edges and provided alongtheir entire periphery with a series of elongated air ports, and asubstantially semi-circular guard-shield along the edge of said widerpart extending over the edge of the other of said parts in spacedrelation to the air ports along the contacting edges of said parts.

7. An electrically heated space radiator comprising a plurality ofhollow sections, means for securing said sections in lateral sequence,each said section being formed of a pair of similarly shaped hollowparts of opposite hand secured along their conforming edges and providedwith a plurality of mutually spaced openings adjacent their engagingedges for the full periphery of the edges, said openings serving as airinlets and outlets, said sections being enlarged laterally respectivelyadjacent their lower ends, the hollow chambers of said sectionsintercommunicating with one another to form a common chamber; andelectrical heating means disposed within said common chamber.

8. An electrically heated space radiator as defined by claim 7 in whichone of said pair of hollow parts is of greater width and height toprovide extensions about the periphery of said section in adjacentrelation with the air openings.

9. An electrically heated space radiator as defined by'claim 7 in whichone of said pair of hollow parts is of greater width and height toprovide extensions about the periphery of said section in adjacentrelation with the air openings, said extensions being ofiset in thedirection of the mating section.

HENRY J. MORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,541,576 Johnson June 9, 19251,649,421 Schoenfeld Nov. 15, 1927 1,796,317 Bennett Mar. 1'7, 19312,153,078 Deuches Apr. 4, 1939

